Epsom and Ewell

Epsom and Ewell's population increased by about 8,000 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 75,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Epsom and Ewell increased by 12.0%, from almost 67,100 to 75,100.

The addition of just over 8,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Epsom and Ewell was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Epsom and Ewell

Latest census data also show that the median age of Epsom and Ewell remained 40 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 300.

About 16.0% of people in Epsom and Ewell are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Epsom and Ewell by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Epsom and Ewell

Epsom and Ewell saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.2%) households in Epsom and Ewell had no children, compared with 60.4% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 29.6% to 31.9%.

Across the region, only Slough saw a greater fall in the proportion of households without children (from 56.5% to 50.9%).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Epsom and Ewell

The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.6% to 7.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.2%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Epsom and Ewell

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Epsom and Ewell was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.2 points.

In 2011, 26.2% of respondents in Epsom and Ewell gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Epsom and Ewell, 66.2% said they were Christian, compared with 78.7% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.2% to 7.1%.

In Epsom and Ewell, 7.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Epsom and Ewell increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Epsom and Ewell by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Epsom and Ewell that rented privately increased from 8.3% to 13.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 7.8%, while the percentage of Epsom and Ewell households that owned their home decreased from 82.4% to 77.0%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Epsom and Ewell increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Epsom and Ewell, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Epsom and Ewell

In 2011, 8.6% of Epsom and Ewell residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 4.7% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 85.9% of people in Epsom and Ewell said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 91.3% in 2001. About 2.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.9% to 1.5%.

the population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Epsom and Ewell increased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Epsom and Ewell by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.0% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.8% in 2001. The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.2% to 10.6%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Epsom and Ewell decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Epsom and Ewell, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Epsom and Ewell

The percentage of married people fell in Epsom and Ewell at a faster rate than in Kingston upon Thames (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Epsom and Ewell).

In Epsom and Ewell, the proportion of married people decreased from 55.8% in 2001 to 53.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Kingston upon Thames decreased from 46.4% to 46.2%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 52.8% to 49.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Epsom and Ewell increased from 27.9% to 31.0%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.4% to 9.4%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Epsom and Ewell working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.0% to 11.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Epsom and Ewell decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Epsom and Ewell, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Living alone in Epsom and Ewell

The percentage of one-person households changed very little here, while the proportion fell in nearby Kingston upon Thames.

In Epsom and Ewell, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 26.9% in 2001 to 26.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Kingston upon Thames decreased from 32.1% to 28.6%.

Across the South East, the share of one-person households increased from 28.7% to 29.0%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Epsom and Ewell increased from 7.5% to 8.3%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 41.8% to 40.5%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.6% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Epsom and Ewell remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Epsom and Ewell by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that were employed remained close to 55.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 1.8% in 2001. While the percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that were self-employed increased from 10.3% to 11.7%.

The proportion of employed people increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 55.4% in 2001 to 54.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 52.5% to 52.3%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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